MY LIFE IN THREE GUITARS- Steve Rothery

The trio of axes that have meant the most the longtime Marillion guitarist

- ANDREW DALY

WHILE PROMOTING HIS latest record, 2025's Gentő — a collaborative effort with Tangerine Dream's Thorsten Quaeschning (released under the Bioscope moniker) — Marillion's Steve Rothery took a moment to dial in with Guitar World to reflect upon his three most important guitars. And yes, Marillion fans — Rothery's '99 tobacco burst Blade RH-4 is on the list. In fact, Rothery says it's the guitar he'd rush in to save if the building — whatever building that might be — were burning down. "I've got maybe eight or nine Blade guitars," he says. "Not one of them is the same as that one."

Rothery also sings the praises of his well-worn 1985 MIJ Squier Stratand early Nineties custom Steinberger M-Series doubleneck.

But, as beloved as those three curios are, he's open to new possibilities. That said, there's a caveat.

"I don't think there'd be any guitar that would supersede them," he says. "But I'm still buying guitars. It's about the classic line, 'How many more guitars do you need?' The answer is always, 'Just one more!' [Laughs] I tend to [sell] anything I'm not playing, so, ultimately, you do the best with what you've got. Then again, if you're working and can afford it - or if you're just passionate about guitars as things of beauty, why not? [Laughs] I know some people who have more guitars than chords they're able to play. They have them because they love them and love owning a piece of craftsmanship and a work of art."

1 MIJ Squier Stratocaster SQ (1985)